All crises bring opportunities. This could be the silver lining to ‘aid austerity’
Workers deliver USA-supplied food at the Adre transit camp in Chad
Simon Townsley
Media Source: The Telegraph (UK)
Date: 6 July 2026
Talk of the ‘post-aid’ world may be overblown but there is no doubt that we are living through a historic contraction in international development spending. As the real impact of cuts becomes apparent, debates around the future of aid, its focus and utility continue. Perhaps the most important principle is a long-term approach…
Talk of the ‘post-aid’ world may be overblown but there is no doubt that we are living through a historic contraction in international development spending. As the real impact of cuts becomes apparent, debates around the future of aid, its focus and utility continue. Perhaps the most important principle is a long-term approach focused on strengthening local organisations’ capacities and structures. The Aga Khan Foundation’s AgroVida programme is enabling Village Development Organisations to access credit and save money, which is vital for rural development. All crises bring opportunities. In the current malaise around the impacts of aid cuts, this shift could be a genuine silver lining. It is time for donors to step up, argues Harry Johnstone, journalist and aid specialist, in a recent op-ed.